Montgomery County approves budget, lowers property tax rate to $0.3770
The Montgomery County Commissioners Court adopted a balanced fiscal year 2025-26 budget and set a property tax rate of $0.3770 per $100 valuation during a special meeting Sept. 5.
As previously reported, the FY 2024-25 approved tax rate was $0.3790 per $100 of home valuation, making the FY 2025-26 tax rate a 0.53% decrease.
The details: The adopted balanced budget totals $508.1 million with allocations including law enforcement pay parity with the city of Houston and Harris County, additional staffing across departments, expanded IT and cybersecurity funding, jail inmate medical and food services and a contribution of nearly $5.4 million to the county’s capital improvement plan, Budget Officer Amanda Carter said.
A last-minute adjustment added $850,000 in expected revenue that had been excluded in earlier drafts. Commissioners debated whether to use the funds to further reduce the tax rate or bolster contingency reserves. Ultimately, the court opted for a compromise: most of the money was applied to lower the rate, with about $74,757 added to contingency, bringing that line item to $150,376, Carter said.
HealthSource of Harper's Preserve to open in September
HealthSource will open on Sept. 22.
The details: The facility offering chiropractic care has services including progressive rehabilitation, laser therapy, spinal decompression and nutritional counseling as well as treatment for back pain, migraines and other services.
What to know: Most Texas school districts required to display donated Ten Commandments posters under state law
Most Texas public schools are required to display donated posters of the Ten Commandments in classrooms under Senate Bill 10, a state law that took effect Sept. 1.
The details: On Aug. 20, a Texas federal judge temporarily blocked the following 11 school districts from displaying the Ten Commandments:
Alamo Heights ISD
Austin ISD
Cy-Fair ISD
Dripping Springs ISD
Fort Bend ISD
Houston ISD
Lackland ISD
Lake Travis ISD
North East ISD
Northside ISD
Plano ISD
Attorney General Ken Paxton appealed the ruling and directed other school districts to begin displaying donated copies of the Ten Commandments.
The debate: Proponents of SB 10, including Paxton and Republican state lawmakers, have argued that seeing the Ten Commandments on a daily basis will help Texas students better understand U.S. history and learn about morality.
Some religious scholars have stressed the importance of teaching students about religion in an “appropriate educational context.” Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns that non-Christian students will feel left out or be bullied by their peers for not following the Ten Commandments.
State Sen. Brandon Creighton officially named sole finalist for Texas Tech University System chancellor
State Sen. Brandon Creighton was officially named the sole finalist for the position of chancellor and CEO for the Texas Tech University System at a Sept. 4 board of regents meeting, according to a Sept. 4 news release.
Quote of note: “The Texas Tech University System has a proud history and limitless potential,” Creighton said via news release. “From research and innovation to nationally prominent academic programs, it represents the very best of Texas. I am honored to be named sole finalist for chancellor and look forward to building on this momentum and leading the TTU System into its next era of success.”
What else: During a Texas Senate session on Sept. 3, Senate Resolution 87, which congratulates Creighton on his appointment, was read. Leadership Montgomery County will also honor Creighton during the nonprofit’s Leadership Summit on Sept. 19 at the new Kevin Brady Library and Community Center.
